Story Based Question
You own a cozy local bookstore and have recently noticed an increase in customers who found you through voice search. Curious, you decide to test a few queries on your voice assistant. You ask, “Where can I find a bookstore near me?” and your shop appears at the top of the results. You start wondering: “What role do local listings play in helping my store show up in voice search results like this?”
Exact Answer
Local listings play a vital role in voice search results by providing search engines with accurate, consistent information about your business, such as name, address, phone number, hours, and services, which helps voice assistants deliver the most relevant results for location-based queries.
Explanation
Local listings are key for businesses aiming to rank well in local voice search results. When a user asks a voice assistant about a product or service near them, the assistant needs to access accurate, up-to-date information to give a relevant answer. Here’s how local listings help with this:
- Provide Accurate Business Information
- Local listings (like Google My Business, Bing Places, and other online directories) allow you to provide your business details, such as your address, phone number, hours of operation, and services. This structured information is crucial for voice assistants, which rely on it to answer queries like, “Where’s the nearest bookstore?” or “What time does [Business Name] close?”
- Improve Visibility in Local Search Results
- When your local listing is optimized, it increases your chances of appearing in local voice search results. Voice assistants often prioritize businesses that appear in trusted local listings because the data is standardized, which means your shop is more likely to show up when users ask for nearby businesses.
- Enable Accurate Location-Based Responses
- Voice search queries often have location-based intent. If someone asks, “What’s a good bookstore nearby?” the voice assistant needs access to your business’s precise location, so it can present your bookstore as the closest option. Local listings allow this by providing search engines with your exact location, making it easier for voice assistants to pull relevant answers.
- Increase the Chance of Appearing in Local Pack Results
- Voice search frequently pulls results from the local pack (the map and business listings displayed at the top of Google’s search results). If your local listing is complete and accurate, it increases your chances of being featured in the local pack when users ask location-specific queries. For example, your bookstore might show up in the local pack when someone asks, “Where can I buy books near me?”
- Support Business Reviews and Ratings
- Local listings often include customer reviews and ratings, which can influence how voice assistants rank businesses in search results. Positive reviews not only improve your visibility but also give your business credibility. When someone asks about bookstores nearby, a good review rating might help your shop stand out as a trusted recommendation.
Example
Let’s say you run a local bookstore and want to ensure you’re visible in voice search. Here’s how local listings play a role:
- Step 1: You create and optimize your Google My Business listing, including accurate details such as:
- Business name: [Your Bookstore]
- Address: [Street Name, City, ZIP]
- Phone number: [Contact number]
- Hours: [Open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.]
- Products/Services: [Books, coffee, book signings, etc.]
- Step 2: Your listing is linked to your website and includes customer reviews. Over time, you gather positive reviews about the welcoming atmosphere and the selection of books.
- Step 3: A customer asks their voice assistant, “Where can I buy books near me?” The assistant accesses your business’s Google My Business listing, which shows your store as the closest, most relevant option. Because your listing is accurate, complete, and optimized, it presents your bookstore as a top choice.
- Step 4: When your business shows up in the local pack or in direct voice search results, you notice an increase in foot traffic and sales from customers who found your store through their voice assistants.
Local listings are essential for voice search because they provide voice assistants with accurate and up-to-date information about your business. By optimizing your listings on platforms like Google My Business, you increase your visibility and improve your chances of appearing in voice search results, especially for local queries.